Editor's note: With offseason work across the league at an end, the focus shifts to the steamy summer workouts ahead. Training camps are under way this week. Sporting News provides in-depth looks at all 32 teams leading into camps. Today: Oakland Raiders.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — On the surface, the Raiders might not look much different this season than they did last year. However, there is plenty of change taking place in Oakland, with Mark Davis taking the reins from his father after almost 50 years, Reggie McKenzie assuming the general manager role, Dennis Allen taking over for fired head coach Hue Jackson and a slew of newcomers added to the coaching staff.

Allen hired Greg Knapp to be the offensive coordinator, which harkens a return to the West Coast offense and a zone-blocking scheme. Jason Tarver takes over for Chuck Bresnahan as the defensive coordinator, with the promise of making the Raiders defense more dynamic and, in turn, less predictable.

The foundation has been laid for the Raiders to build upon last season’s near-playoff season. Now, Allen is hopeful the Raiders will take what they learned in the offseason and parlay that into a showing that nets their first playoff berth since the 2002 season.

Most of the key players from last season’s team are back. The hope is that more diverse schemes, combined with fewer penalties and turnovers, will result in more victories and an AFC West title. “We’re going to be a tough, smart, disciplined football team,” Allen said. “We’re going to play the game the right way. We’re going to play fast, and we’re going to play tough. (Fans) can expect a team that they’re going to be proud of.”

What’s new: Offense

Knapp is back for a second stint as the Raiders offensive coordinator. As part of Knapp's West Coast scheme, Carson Palmer will be asked to do more rollouts and bootlegs, something he has done in the past.

Other changes include: Cooper Carlisle moving from right guard to left; free agent signee Mike Brisiel taking over at right guard; second-year player Stefen Wisniewski moving from left guard to center; David Ausberry or Brandon Myers replacing departed starter Kevin Boss at tight end; and Taiwan Jones or Mike Goodson replacing Michael Bush as the backup running back.

Overall, the Raiders offense shouldn’t look much different from the one that racked up big yardage in numerous games last season. Knapp will make use of lead back Darren McFadden as much as possible and incorporate his tight ends into the passing attack more than outgoing play-caller Jackson did last season.

What’s new: Defense

Tarver replaces Bresnahan as the defensive coordinator. This is Tarver’s first stint as an NFL coordinator. He intends to make the Raiders defense more “multiple.” In short, that means more blitzing, the addition of the 3-4 alignment at times and less man-to-man coverage than the Raiders have used for the past four-plus decades.

Philip Wheeler was signed to replace Kamerion Wimbley at strong-side linebacker, cornerbacks Ron Bartell and Shawntae Spencer were added as potential replacements for jettisoned veterans Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson and veterans such as Dave Tollefson, Pat Lee and Brandon Underwood signed for added depth.

The Raiders are intent upon making up for any shortcomings on defense by disguising their coverages and fronts, with an array of blitzes added to aid in the confusion. In the past, the Raiders were pretty predictable in terms of their pass coverage and the use of a four-man rush, with few blitzes.

Camp goals

1. Identifying starting cornerbacks. Bartell and Spencer are talented enough to replace long-time Raiders corners Routt and Johnson. However, both are fresh from injury-plagued seasons and recently turned 30. Coach Allen is hopeful that second-year corners DeMarcus Van Dyke and Chimdi Chekwa, among others, are poised to step in if Bartell and/or Spencer fall shy of expectations.

2. Finding a starting tight end. For the second straight year, the Raiders enter camp without the starting tight end from the previous season — Zach Miller last season, Kevin Boss this time around. Second-year player David Ausberry has emerged as a replacement candidate, along with veteran Brandon Myers. Myers is a solid, dependable player who has yet to get a shot at the starting job. Ausberry is a player viewed with huge upside, based on his speed, background as a wide receiver and great hands.

3. Honing the 3-4 alignment. The Raiders are incorporating the 3-4 into the defensive scheme for the first time since 2005. The goal is to make the defense less predictable and to take better advantage of the players’ skills. Finding a suitable nose tackle will be the most important aspect of making this change work. That’s what camp will be used for.

Breakout player

Denarius Moore showed flashes his rookie season, both as a wide receiver and punt returner. Now that he is confident in his ability to succeed at the NFL level, Moore figures to develop into a front-line player.

He posted impressive stats last season (33 catches, 618 yards, five touchdowns in 13 games) after bursting on the scene as an unheralded fifth-round draft pick. Just the same, he missed time with a foot injury and shared playing time with several other receivers.

He enters this season as a projected starter and a focal point of the offense. That’s something “that I put upon myself, continue to work harder to be the person that (Palmer) wants me to be and the coaches want me to be, and to help put the team on my shoulders and carry on,” Moore said.

Bottom line

The Raiders are a team on the rise, with heightened expectations fueled by last season’s 8-8 showing, McFadden's return to health and a full season with Palmer at quarterback. The offense is potent enough to be a top-five unit. Most of the questions surround a defensive unit that features several new starters, a revamped scheme and new coordinator. The lack of a dominant team in the AFC West gives the Raiders plenty of optimism. At the same time, the Raiders are faced with overcoming a ton of change in leadership, philosophy and personnel, to go with a slew of question marks at key positions.

Prediction: Fourth, AFC West

Steve Corkran covers the Raiders for the Contra Costa Times and Sporting News.